Favorite Versions Of My Old Kentucky Home

1.  The University of Louisville Marching Band playing this at the Kentucky Derby is without a doubt the top pick.

2.  Love this song after University of Louisville and University of Kentucky ball games.  Should be mandatory at every state college.          

3.  No single person made this song more haunting and stirring than governor of the Commonwealth A.B. "Happy" Chandler. 

  

4.  Anytime this song is sung by a choral group a capella.  You know you've got a great song when people from all over the world do a rendition.   

 

Other thoughts? 

What's it like to go to the Kentucky Derby?

Read this.

Read this.

The truth lies in there somewhere. 

Can you name this film quote?

"Buy you a drink.  Great stuff this bourbon.  It comes from a land called Kentucky."

"So what else do they do in Kentucky?"

"They have a big, big horse race.  They play very good basketball.  And they have babies like everyone else."

"That sounds like a nice place."

"Never been there."

(abridged)

Worst Kentucky Derby Song Ever?

Yes.  But the old school clip from George Michael's Sports Machine of Kentucky farms and great horses makes somewhat bearable. 

Friday Post Parade: Follow Me Back To Louisville

Opening Night '11.  Photo: Dan Dry

Folks we are painfully close Derby.  That's awesome. 

• We are $30 away from our donation goal.  Let's make it happen.  Steadied At The Start gave generously this week.  Thank you.  
• ULhothot still holds a nice lead over the field in our league.  Dude's a rookie.  My guess is he'll be playing again next year.  
• I plan on continuing to post random things about Derby, Kentucky, Louisville, etc. from here on out.
• Love that Churchill Downs will again have Opening Night and the Derby Trial under the lights.  Looks like a hell of a time.  

 This song will get us going for Derby Week.  Good luck this weekend.  

$200,000 Derby Trial (gr. III, Race 10, 10:42 p.m.), 3YO, 1 Mile (Dirt)

PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1. Tarpy's Goal (FL), L R Goncalves, 118, D L Romans

2. The Black (CA), C H Borel, 118, D F O'Neill

3. Saint of Saints (FL), K J Desormeaux, 118, D L Romans

4. Nonios (KY), G K Gomez, 118, J Hollendorfer

5. Hierro (KY), J R Leparoux, 118, S M Asmussen

6. Quick Wit (KY), C J Lanerie, 118, D L Romans

7. Paynter (KY), M Garcia, 118, B Baffert

8. Seve (KY), J L Castanon, 118,D L Romans

9. Stealcase (KY), S Bridgmohan, 118, M E Casse

10. Motor City (KY) B J Hernandez Jr., 120, I R Wilkes

11. Bourbon Courage (KY), M Mena, 118, K Gorder

Eight More Miles To Louisville

Courtesy Kentucky bred Grandpa Jones.   

Take Me Back To Louisville

Every year there are some songs I listen to over and over leading up to Derby.  This is one of them.

Friday Post Parade: Calm Before The Storm

photo by Jacob Zimmer

The week between the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland and the Derby Trail at Churchill always has an odd stillness to it.  And then all Hades breaks lose.

• Still need $65 to reach our donation goal.  It's easy to do folks. 
• Supplemental draft #2 is up and running so make sure you pick up an additional couple of horse before Derby.  
• Don't have Creative Cause or Hansen in my stable yet.  Know what?  I ain't pickin' them up either.  How you like dem apples? 
• Already have my Derby horse picked out this year.  

Thunder Over Louisville is this Saturday.  Only one song to get us going for that.

$200,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II, Race 9, 5:13 p.m.), 3YO, 1 1/16 Miles (Polytrack)

PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1. Morgan's Guerrilla (KY), J R Leparoux, 118, M J Maker

2. Summer Front (KY), R A Dominguez, 120, C Clement

3. Johannesbourbon (KY), G K Gomez, 118, K Gorder

4. Skyring (KY), J K Court, 118, D W Lukas

5. Golden Ticket (KY), M R Cruz, 118, K G McPeek

6. Holiday Promise (KY), J Alvarado, 118, T A Pletcher

7. Castaway (KY), S Bridgmohan, 120, B Baffert

8. Hammers Terror (KY), R Albarado, 118,, M Stidham

9. All Squared Away (KY), J A Garcia, 118, W A Ward

10. News Pending (KY), K J Desormeaux, 118, D L Romans

11. Gold Megillah (KY), J R Velazquez, 118, H G Motion

$200,000 Jerome Stakes (gr. II, Race 9, 5 p.m.), 3YO, 1 Mile (Dirt)

PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1. The Lumber Guy (NY), M J Luzzi, 120, M E Hushion

2. Brigand (NY), C S Nakatani, 116, B Baffert

3. Stirred Up (VA), M Garcia, 116, B Baffert

4. Dan and Sheila (KY), R Napravnik, 116, T Pletcher

5. Right to Vote (KY), O Solis, 116, E G Harty

6. Adirondack King (KY), K Carmouche, 120, J C Servis

7. Term Loan (FL), A Garcia, 116, R A Violette Jr.

Friday Post Parade: Reaching Our Donation Goal

Last big races are this weekend.  Should be fun.  We then have the home stretch of Lexington, Jerome, and Derby Trail. 

• Big props to Four Roses Stable (small batch and single barrel are both divine) and Shall We Play A Game for significant donations to our Old Friends Trust.  With their big help we can easily reach our goal of $220.  Let's do this people.  
• After this weekend there will be one more supplemental draft where you can pick up two more horses.  Choose wisely.  
• I've been chasing points where I hope others aren't and so far that hasn't worked out.  Still some time for a big score.  

So many easy ways to go for your song of the day (Midnight Crooner, Scatman, Heavy Breathing).  But here's what I'd say at the betting window:  "Oaklawn, Race 11, give me $100 exact box, #10 w/Kentucky bred Ricky Skaggs.  Then add Ashley Monroe with 'em in a $50 tri box.  Let it ride."

$750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I, Race 11, 6:18 p.m.), 3YO, 1 1/8 Miles (Polytrack)

PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds

1. Heavy Breathing (KY), C Lanerie, T Pletcher, 12-1

2. Gung Ho (PA), E Prado, M Maker, 30-1

3. Prospective (KY), L Contreras, M Casse, 10-1

4. Hansen (KY), R Dominguez, M Maker, 6-5

5. Russian Greek (KY), M Mena, G Dorochenko, 50-1

6. Dullahan (KY), K Desormeaux, D Romans, 6-1

7. Politicallycorrect (KY), E Trujillo, W Ward, 30-1

8. Midnight Crooner (KY), G Gomez, B Baffert, 15-1

9. Holy Candy (KY), J Rosario, J Sadler, 30-1

10. Howe Great (KY), J astellano, G Motion, 6-1

11. Ever So Lucky (KY), J Leparoux, J Shepphard, 12-1

12. Hero of Order (KY), E Martin Jr., G Dorochenko, 12-1

13. Scatman (KY), S Bridgmohan, M Lauer, 12-1

All will carry 123 pounds.
 

$1 Million Arkansas Derby (gr. I, Race 11, 5:45 p.m.), 3YOs, 1 1/8 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, ML Odds
1. Cozzetti (KY), J Lezcano, 118, D L Romans, 15/1
2. Stat (KY), J R Velazquez, 118, T A Pletcher, 10/1
3. Najjaar (KY), C H Borel, 118, D C Peitz, 15/1
4. Jake Mo (KY), M C Berry, 122, A Milligan, 30/1
5. Secret Circle (KY), R Bejarano, 122, B Baffert, 5/2
6. Isn't He Clever (KY), R Albarado, 122, H Dominguez, 6/1
7. Optimizer (KY), J K Court, 118, D W Lukas, 30/1
8. Atigun (KY), T J Thompson, 118, K G McPeek, 30/1
9. Sabercat (KY), C S Nakatani, 122, S M Asmussen, 15/1
10. Raconteur (KY), C P DeCarlo, 122, T A Pletcher, 15/1
11. Bodemeister (VA), M E Smith, 118, B Baffert, 9/5
Blinkers Off: Isn't He Clever, Bodemeister

Friday Post Parade: Big Weekend

Quite a few big races on tap this weekend.  Keeneland opens today.  We are one month away from The Day.

Your song of the day comes courtesy the #5 horse in the Wood Memorial.  One of the weirdest and coolest bands ever.  Great music, awesome theme and every album cover they the had was amazing.  Good luck this weekend.  

$750,000 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I, Race 6, 2:30 p.m.), 3YOs, 1 1/8 Miles 
PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer, ML Odds
1. Creative Cause (KY), J Rosario, M Harrington, 6/5
2. Liaison (KY), R Bejarano, B Baffert, 8/1
3. Holy Candy (KY), A Quinonez, J W Sadler, 8/1
4. I'll Have Another (KY), M Gutierrez, D F O'Neill, 5/2
5. Longview Drive (KY), R A Baze, J Hollendorfer, 12/1
6. Paynter (KY), M Garcia, B Baffert, 12/1
7. Senor Rain (IN),  E Flores, P Miller, 15/1
8. Midnight Transfer (KY), M E Smith, C Gaines, 10/1
9. Blueskiesnrainbows (VA), J Talamo, B Baffert, 20/1
10. Brother Francis (KY), G K Gomez, J M Cassidy, 20/1
All carry 122 pounds.
Blinkers Off: Creative Cause, Blueskiesnrainbows

$1 million Wood Memorial (gr. I, Race 9, 5:15 p.m.), 3YO, 1 1/8 Miles (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, Odds
1. Alpha (KY), R A Dominguez, 123, K P McLaughlin, 5-2
2. Casual Trick (KY), C S Nakatani, 123, N P Zito, 20-1
3. My Adonis (KY), E Trujillo, 123, K J Breen, 8-1
4. Teeth of the Dog (KY), J Bravo, 123, M R Matz, 15-1
5. Street Life (KY), J Alvarado, 123, C C Brown, 4-1
6. Gemologist (KY), J Castellano, 123, T A Pletcher, 8-5
7. Tiger Walk (KY), J R Velazquez, 123, I Correas IV, 15-1
8. The Lumber Guy (NY), C H Velasquez, 123, M E Hushion, 8-1

$500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. III, Race 9, 5:46 p.m.), 3YO, 1 1/8 Miles (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Romancing the Gold (PA), I Ortiz, Jr., 122, J C Englehart
2. Hakama (KY), J Pimentel, 122, M J Trombetta
3. Ring It Up (KY), L Wade, 122, C Richard
4. Currency Swap (FL), S Bridgmohan, 122, T M Pompay
5. Pretension (NY), J Santiago, 122, C W Grove
6. Skyring (KY), R A Vazquez, 122, D W Lukas
7. Saturday Launch (KY), C A Emigh, K G McPeek
8. Z Rockstar (OK), Q Hamilton 122, D K Von Hemel
9. Fastestwhogetspaid (ON), I Ocampo, 122, B Williamson
10. Frankie Is Rock (KY), E E Perez, 122, R Aguilar
11. Our Entourage (KY), E Castro, 122, T A Pletcher
12. Morgan's Guerrilla (KY), R Napravnik, 122, M J Maker
13. Done Talking (KY), S Russell, 122, H A Smith
14. Slamit (FL), C Hill, 122, T A Ice
Also Eligibles:
Explain (KY), F C Torres, 122, B H Cox
Arm Force (KY), E Castro, 122, E G Harty
Defiant Flyer (TX), S B Martinez, 122, L P Davis

 $250,000 Bay Shore Stakes (gr. III, Race 8, 4:38 p.m.), 3YO, 7 Furlongs

PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Trinniberg (KY), W Martinez, 120, B Parboo
2. Perfect Trippi (FL), C S Nakatani, 116, D L Romans
3. Copy My Swagger (KY), D Cohen, 116, D Jacobson
4. Phil Dancer (PA), C H Velasquez, 120, R E Reid Jr.
5. King and Crusader (MD), M J Luzzi, 120, R E Dutrow Jr.
6. Hardened Wildcat (KY), J Alvarado, 120, C C Brown
7. Maan (KY), J Castellano, 116, E Kenneally
8. How Do I Win (KY), J R Velazquez, 116, T A Pletcher